New Covid-19 crisis hits ICUs as more patients need dialysis

[RandySF]

(CNN)Emergency room doctors say they are running into a new crisis as they struggle to treat patients with Covid-19 -- a shortage of dialysis machines and supplies.

They say they are overwhelmed, not only because patients are going into kidney failure, but also because the body's intense reaction to the virus is often causing their blood to clot too much, and the clots are literally clogging up the dialysis filters.

It's part of the new syndrome that doctors are seeing in Covid-19 patients. They are not dying from the pneumonia that has been one of the defining symptoms of serious Covid-19 disease, but from other systemic effects on their hearts and other organs.

"It's taken everyone by surprise because it is acting so different from everything else," said Dr. Sam Parnia, a critical care specialist at New York University Langone Medical Center.

"They are not dying because they can't get enough oxygen. They are actually dying because of other complications and it is predominately due to blood clots."



https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/17/health/coronavirus-kidney-dialysis-need/index.html

[Backseat Driver]

1. There is hope that convalescent plasma filled with

antibodies to the SARS-Cov2 can be transfused in-hospital to help to avoid organ complications and clear lungs for better function; it's being marginally tried to see how that therapy works.

https://www.10tv.com/article/desperate-need-convalescent-plasma-donors-2020-apr

[SheltieLover]

2. So, let's "reopen" in a hurry! 🤬

TY for pisting this!

[IcyPeas]

3. they did a report on NPR about this today

first it wasn't enough ventilators,

now there isn't enough kidney dialysis machines.

Lopez said it means making hard choices. "You have to try to decide who's going to get dialysis and who's not," he said.

[RandySF]

4. This virus wrecks the entire body.